11 Mind-Blowing Ways To Travel For Cheap (That Really Work!)
Most people think traveling cheaply means staying in hostels and hunting for cheap flights.
But what if I told you there are people traveling the world while living in beachfront homes for free, driving camper vans across entire countries for $1 per day, and getting free admission to major music festivals simply by volunteering?
These aren’t scams or travel gimmicks, they’re real strategies people use to dramatically cut down on travel costs.
Here are 11 of my favorites.
1. House-sitting / Pet-sitting Abroad
Did you know you can get free accommodations just by house or pet-sitting for families while they’re away?!
TrustedHousesitters and Nomador are two popular and well-supported platforms for this type of travel. Choose the platform and membership that works best for you, and you’ll gain unlimited access to apply for listings all around the world!
Keep in mind, travel to and from sits are NOT included in your membership and these gigs do not pay.
You are essentially trading your time, presence, and care-taking skills for a free stay. It’s a win-win for everybody!
Here’s a quick breakdown of pricing & memberships:
TrustedHousesitters:
- Requires a paid membership ranging from $10.75 – $$21.60/monthly USD (billed annually)
- The two lowest membership tiers (basic & standard) also require a $12 USD booking fee per gig
- Apply to unlimited sits with any membership
- Includes a “money back promise” (if you don’t book any sits within 14 days of making your 5th application, you can request a full refund!)
Nomador:
- Requires a paid membership, ranging from $99 – $209/annually USD
- Offers a short-term membership of $44 USD for 3 months
- Apply to unlimited sits with any membership
- Can cancel any time (membership will end at the end of the billing cycle)
2. Repositioning Vehicles
Sometimes companies need help moving cars, trucks, RVs, and campers between cities. This is a great way to road trip on a budget for much cheaper than the average rental car costs.
Imoova is a great platform for this! These trips are one-way only and have specified dates in which you pick up the vehicle and when you are expected to arrive at your destination.
If you’re looking for a cheap way to explore the US, drive across Australia or New Zealand, venture through Canada, or explore someplace entirely new, check this out!
Here are a few key details to keep in mind:
- Trips range from $1+/night
- You are expected to pay for gas and tolls, however most listings will provide a fuel allowance that is refunded to you after the trip is complete (just make sure to keep all receipts!)
- The cost breakdown includes:
- Cost of relocation is the $1+ per night
- Extra day cost is the cost per day you extend your trip (this is optional!)
- Booking fee is the fee you pay to Imoova to process your booking
- Holding deposit is paid to Imoova and refunded to you when you pick up the vehicle. (This is just reassurance for the company to make sure that you actually show up)
- Rental Bond is the security deposit on the vehicle, and is refunded to you after the trip is complete. (This is to make sure you return the vehicle in the same condition as you received it in.)
- Some vehicles include amenities such as linen kits, kitchen supplies, shower & toilets, heating, etc. If they do not, these can sometimes be purchased at an additional cost, but it depends on the listing
- Some may also be pet-friendly and/or allow multiple drivers if you plan to bring someone with you
For more cost information about Imoova, check out this blog post.
3. Work Exchange Programs
There are so many different types of work exchanges out there, but Workaway and WWOOF are two great platforms to try out if you’re interested in this type of program.
Work exchanges are exactly what they sound like, you’re exchanging your time, skills, and energy for food, accommodations, or other perks. It’s a great way to travel for cheap, meet new friends, and experience different lifestyles and cultures.
Types of work you may do:
- Helping on a farm
- Gardening (planting, harvesting, etc.)
- Composting
- House or pet-sitting
- Working in a hostel
- Teaching a language
- Assisting in community/village projects
- Working on eco-friendly construction projects
Workaway:
Workaway is a great option for solo travelers, and there’s even a whole section on their website dedicated to solo traveler information! This is where you’ll find info on hosts, how the platform and programs work, and resources to learn more and connect with other travelers.
In this work exchange program you will receive free accommodations and meals in exchange for your time and energy, and some hosts may also provide a paid allowance.
If you’re a solo traveler, but you don’t want to go alone your first time or looking to meet a new friend, check out Workaway’s “Find a travel buddy” page that will help connect you with someone to go with.
A few more key details to consider:
- For solo travel specifically, memberships range from $69-$89 USD annually
- The general expectancy for work includes 4-5 hours per day, 5 days a week
- Must be 18 years or older to sign up
- Conditions & work may vary greatly depending on different hosts, so be sure to communicate as much as possible beforehand
*For more information, visit Workaway’s FAQ page
Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF):
WWOOF is an incredible way to get involved in sustainable living and organic farming methods. Through this platform you will connect with a host and their family to learn all about daily living, sustainability, the land, and meet new friends along the way!
In this work exchange program you will receive free accommodations and meals in exchange for your time and energy.
What makes WWOOF unique, is that they don’t advertise their programs as “work” necessarily, but rather learning experiences for adults who want to make a difference and immerse themselves in the sustainable living community.
A few more key details to consider:
- An annual membership costs $45 USD
- There are no required working hours or minimums to meet (you will be helping out on a schedule and frequency based on the host’s specific needs)
- You do not need previous farm or construction experience to start
- Must be 18 years or older to sign up
*For more information, visit WWOOF’s FAQ page
4. Volunteer at Festivals
Volunteering at festivals or seasonal events can be a fun way to meet new people and work in exchange for free admission, camping or simple lodging accommodations, meals, and/or transportation.
Keep in mind that not all festivals or events will offer all of these perks, so be sure to do your research beforehand.
Some festivals to volunteer at:
- Glastonbury Festival (UK)
- Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival (US)
- Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (US)
- Shambhala Music Festival (CA)
- Roskilde Festival (Denmark)
You’ll have to do a little bit of research about when/where to apply, since many volunteers work with partner organizations that team up with the festival crew, rather than the festival recruiting volunteers themselves.
5. Travel During “Off-Seasons”
Traveling when it’s peak tourist season can have a huge impact on your bank account, and not in a good way.
One of the best ways to travel for cheap is to plan your trips over the “off” or “slow” seasons of your destination. For example, if you’re traveling to Greece, go in October or November rather than mid-summer. Or, if you’re traveling to Thailand, go in April or May instead of its peak tourist season in November – February.
This applies to season-specific “resort towns” as well. Instead of going to the ski village over winter, go in the summer! See a beautiful countryside community surrounded by lakes? Go in the winter and enjoy the serenity instead of flooding the space with other seasonal tourists in the summer.
By shifting your focus to off-season traveling you’re not only going to save yourself some money, but it’ll be less crowded and the community will most likely be more welcoming as well.
6. Use Overnight Transportation To Your Advantage
If you want to save a little extra cash, it can help to book overnight transportation (think red-eye flights, overnight bus or train routes, etc.) and skip a night in a hotel.
This may not be the most convenient option, but it does work where it counts!
For example, taking a red-eye flight for a short weekend getaway can save you nearly half of what you’d spend on accommodations otherwise. You’ll travel through the night and sleep, arrive at your destination with a full day planned, then you’ll spend your second night in a hotel, have another full day, and leave that night to go home.
7. Stay In College Towns During Breaks
If you’re traveling to a city that has a university nearby, it may be worth it to check out the local Facebook groups and see if any students are subletting their apartments over school breaks.
Specifically, over major holidays, typically the month of January (in between semesters), or over the summer, you may have some luck with students who won’t be around for a couple weeks to a few months and are looking to make some extra money in the meantime. It could mean cheap accommodations for you, and some cash for them!
If you decide to go this route, just make sure it’s allowed.
If the student is subletting their university housing (dorms, apartment buildings maintained by the university, etc.) there is a good chance that it is not allowed or approved.
It’s best to make sure the student has a signed agreement by them, their landlord, and yourself, stating that it is okay for you to stay in the space for the designated amount of time and at the price you discussed.
8. Travel to “Second Cities”
Instead of staying in the busiest and most expensive tourist cities, why not choose a neighboring city for cheaper?
This is one of the most effective travel hacks out there to save money, and it just makes sense. Some travelers even find that traveling outside of tourist-heavy cities, especially in Western Europe, makes for a much better experience.
And that’s not to say that all tourist cities or attractions are bad, and if it’s something you care about then you should definitely go! But, you don’t necessarily have to book your stays in those cities to visit the popular attractions. Many travelers book outside of the city and travel in for day trips, which is encouraged here as well!
So where should you go?
Here is a list of “second cities” that are equally beautiful and more budget-friendly:
- Paris –> Lyon, France
- Amsterdam –> Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Barcelona –> València, Spain
- Madrid –> Granada, Spain
- Venice –> Province of Trieste, Italy
- Milan –> Metropolitan City of Bologna, Italy
- Dublin –> Galway, Ireland
- Lisbon –> Coimbra, Portugal
- Tokyo –> Fukuoka, Japan
- Osaka –> Kobe, Japan
And this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many more and it’s highly worth it to do your research and book your stays in “second cities.” Not only will it save you money, but you’ll get to see and do so much more as well!
9. Play “Flight Roulette”
If you have the time to be spontaneous, this is for you!
Choose a departure date, set a budget (or just look for the cheapest possible option), and book the first flight you see. Or, if you want to take it a step further, pack your bags and show up to the airport prepared to take the cheapest flight out, but you won’t know where it’s going until you’re there.
It’s as simple as that!
This game decides where you’re going and it’s up to you to make the most of it. It’s possible you could end up on a crazy cheap flight to a really cool city and it’s a major win…or, you could also risk the chance of ending up in a cornfield somewhere. It’s all part of the experience and this is a great way to embrace the unknown. 🙂
10. Exchange Skills Instead of Money
Similar to a work exchange program, you can offer your skills rather than accepting money as payment for your services.
For example, if your hobby is photography, why not pitch yourself as a personal travel photographer? You could seek out clients looking for a talented photographer to bring with on trips to capture their special moments, and in return they pay for your travel expenses.
Another example, if you have experience working with children, you could offer part-time travel nannying services and work with families to provide care on the go. Again, you get your travel expenses paid, a place to stay, and some occasional downtime to explore on your own.
This is where you can get really creative and find a way to provide unique, top-notch services to your clients while also reaping the benefits of getting to travel on a low budget.
11. Travel Through Seasonal Work
This is a very unique and rewarding way to travel while making a living at the same time. And, if you’re someone who has a lot of flexibility and doesn’t like to stay in one place for too long, this may work for you.
Seasonal jobs are scattered all over the place, you just need to know where to look for them and where you want to be. If you like taking advantage of the winter months, look for jobs that rely on winter weather, like a ski or snowboard instructor at a winter resort.
The same thing applies for the summer months, if you like the outdoors and hot weather, look for seasonal jobs at summer camps or national parks.
There are employers out there who solely hire seasonal workers to help with short-term projects, running farmers markets tables, or other random tasks that they don’t have time for and don’t need someone all year round for. This is your market of jobs to look for!
This isn’t going to be for everyone, especially if you crave stability, but I’m throwing it on the list anyways because it could be an extremely fulfilling way to balance your passion for travel while still being able to pay the bills.
At the end of the day, some of the best ways to travel for cheap aren’t the most obvious ones. Be curious and flexible, have an open mind, and don’t be afraid to try new things because you never know where it might take you!
